Signs it needs replacing
Cracking, splitting, or flashing that's visibly lifted away from the wall or chimney are all signs the lead has reached the end of its useful life and needs replacing rather than patching.
Why patching often doesn't last
A quick patch over failing flashing can buy a little time, but once lead has started to fail structurally, a proper replacement is the more reliable fix than repeated small repairs.
What replacement involves
We remove the old flashing completely, check the substrate underneath for any damage caused by the leak, and dress new lead in properly rather than working around the old material.